Isakaba Death Squad attacks Obong Palace, 8/25/08

On Monday, August 25, 2008, a 10 member Isakaba death squad
attacked the Palace of the
traditional ruler of the Efik, Obong Bassey Ekpo Bassey,
who is close to the Cuban Abakuá. The death
squad is under the
protection of Nigeria's Cross River State and its corrupt Governor Imoke.

The hoodlums emerged from a light blue van armed with a range
of weapons: AK-47, magic machetes, and rocks. The van appeared to
have a Lagos license plate: NH666-AAA.They intended to kill the
Obong, but he escaped unharmed thanks
to his effective security team, who managed to capture one of the invaders
before being finally overwhelmed in a second attack by Federal Police in league with the
corrupt PDP Cross River State government. Among the many
injured in the attack was Ivor
Miller, a specialist in AfroCuban culture. The
police claimed that the palace guards were responsible for a
'murder' several months ago, but there's been no body, and
no other evidence. It's telling that this invasion happened
the day after
'elections' where the Governor Imoke is a leader.

Before Calabar Burns,
8/8/2008 Press Release from the Etubom Traditional Council of the Efik
Nation on the murder and mayhem committed by Cross River State government
backed militias, with photos of some victims.

EDIDEM Bassey Ekpo Bassey II,
one of the contestants to the lingering Obongship crisis narrowly escaped
death yesterday as militants group suspected to be members of "Isakaba"
invaded his residence cum palace.

No reason was given for the attack but it may not be
unconnected with his persistent in getting justice in the Obongship
crisis.

Armed with dangerous weapons, the group stormed the No
11, Ikot Esu Square, residence of Bassey in Calabar and caused serious
havoc. There was still tension but heavily armed mobile policemen have
been deployed to maintain security in the area

The assailants, about 25 in number, armed with guns,
machetes, knives, clubs and charms, invaded Bassey's residence at about
9.00a.m. and made straight for the inner chambers of his house, where he
usually receives his visitors, with a plan to kill him.

The initial move by the invaders was resisted by
Bassey's guards and staff who succeeded in preventing the Isakaba members
from doing any harm to Bassey but at great cost as some of the guards and
staff were severely injured.

Also attacked and seriously manhandled by the invaders
is a Cuban national, Professor Ivor Miller, who is in Nigeria to conduct
his research on some aspect of African culture, especially the Ekpe.
[Correction: Ivor Miller is a
US citizen.]

One of the attackers was arrested by the guards who
later made contacted with one of the kingmakers, Etubom Dr. Ambrose
Akpanika, who invited the police to take the arrested person to the police
station.

Bassey escaped in the ensuing crisis from his
residence, which is just a stone throw from the state police headquarters.

But surprisingly, before the police team could take
the arrested invader away from Bassey's residence, an eye witnesses said
another group of invaders arrived in a bus accompanied by mobile policemen
and dislodged the initial policemen who had been invited to take the
arrested invader to the police station.

The witnesses said the second group of invaders
descended on the house, vandalising whatever they could lay their hands on
and attacking whoever they found in the residence.

The team of mobile policemen also arrested of Akpanika,
Bassey's wife, all his guards and staff, his children and the Cuban
national. The children were later released.

Bassey, who spoke from an undisclosed location, said
"the attackers who are members of the Isakaba, the militants we have
always complained to the authorities about, stormed my residence this
morning at about 9 a.m. Their mission was to kill me. I was lucky to
escape with my life due to the resistance put up by my guards and staff.
One of the initial attackers was apprehended, after they had done
substantial damage to my house, including wooden structures that are over
100 years old.

"We got in touch with Akpanika to get the police
to take the boy to the police station, and he actually brought some
policemen to affect the arrest of the boy. But suddenly, another team of
mobile policeman with militants arrived and dislodged the policemen
brought by Akpanika.

"This latter group went into the residence again
under the cover of the mobile policemen and destroyed more structures and
property in the house. Instead of the police arresting the invader, they
arrested Akpanika, my wife, Miller, my guards, staff and my children. We
have been complaining about this group of terrorists kept and protected by
the state government in the Obong's office at the instance of my
opponents.

"They intend to kill me to make the second
capping that has no place in Efik history effective. I am at a loss as to
why the invaders have not been arrested, yet members of my household
including Akpanika, who went to invite the police, are in detention."

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the
Cross River State Police Command, Mr. Thomas Adama Okpene, confirmed the
incident, but he could not get full details from the office handing the
matter and declined to make further comment pending the outcome of
investigations.

A factional Obong of Calabar, Edidem Bassey Ekpo Bassey II narrowly escaped death yesterday morning when a gang suspected to be members of the 'Isakaba' invaded his residence in Calabar.
Sources said the invaders, numbering more than 15 and armed with dangerous weapons, stormed Ekpo-Bassey's residence at No.11 Ikot Esu Square at about 9:00 am and headed for the inner chambers of his house where he usually receives his visitors.

THISDAY learnt that Ekpo-Bassey's guards were able to resist the invaders but received severe injuries.

The invaders, according to sources, also seriously injured Professor Ivor Miller, a Cuban national and renowned cultural historian, who had been in Nigeria since last year conducting research on some aspects of African culture, especially the Ekpe society in which he had been initiated.
[Correction: Ivor Miller is a
US citizen.]

Sources said one of the attackers was arrested by the guards who succeeded in overpowering them before contacts were made with one of the kingmakers, Etubom Dr. Ambrose Akpanika, who invited the police to take the arrested person to the police station.

Ekpo-Bassey was lucky as he escaped but his house, believed to be more than 100 years old was not spared as the invaders vandalized it.

Eye witnesses said before the police arrived, another group of invaders arrived in a bus accompanied by mobile policemen. They were said to have vandalized whatever they could lay their hands on and attacked whoever they found in the residence.

The mobile policemen also effected the arrest of Akpanika, Ekpo-Bassey's wife, all his guards and staff, as well as the Cuban national and members of his household , including his children . The children were later released.

When THISDAY visited the residence at about 3.30pm , there was nobody to talk to as the black entrance gate to the residence was locked.

The debris of the massive destruction done to the house and cars could be seen from outside through openings in the side of the gate.

There were also blood stains on the floor from the residence to at least fifty metres from there into the streets.

A bus with the inscription South South People Assembly (SSPA), which Akpanika used in conveying the policemen initially to the residence, was seen packed in front of the house.

As at press time, the bus was still parked there while Akpanika was still being detained at the State Police Headquarters at Diamond Hill , just metres away from Ekpo-Bassey's residence.

Bassey who spoke to journalists from an undisclosed location said the attackers had stormed his house with a view to kill him, adding that he only managed to escape unhurt.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Ezeozue, could not be reached as he did not pick calls put across to his phone.

But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Thomas Adama Okpene said the police were aware of the incident.
Okpene confirmed the arrest of the persons but said while the police officer who affected the arrest had briefed him, he was yet to get full details from the officer handling the matter.

Before Calabar Burns,
8/8/2008 Press Release from the Etubom Traditional Council of the Efik
Nation on the murder and mayhem committed by Cross River State government
backed militias, with photos of some victims. The Cuban Abakuá are Efik
in origin.

Ekpo Ekeng, Youth leader of Cobham
Town and member of Calabar Mgbe, is interviewed on the recent events in Calabar,
8/08